Jersey Shore Returns Menacing Dennis to Sprinting

It's a Monster, fresh off a two-length victory in the June 10 Oh Say Stakes at Delaware Park, is favored for Thursday's Jersey Shore Breeders' Cup Stakes (gr. III) at Monmouth Park. Seven horses are slated to contest the six-furlong race.

The Oh Say Stakes was run at the same conditions as the Jersey Shore Breeders' Cup--six furlongs on the dirt. Boston Common, who is among the entrant's for Thursday's race, finished third to It's a Monster in the Oh Say.

Ben Perkins Jr. trains It's a Monster for Eb Novak's New Farm. Expected to challenge him is Menacing Dennis, who has made his last three starts in races longer than a mile. "It's going to be exciting," said the gelding's owner, Dennis Narlinger. "I'm looking forward to him dropping back to a sprint. I wanted to give him a shot against the best, in a classic race, going long. But the experiment is over."

Menacing Dennis third in the nice-furlong Snow Chief Stakes in California in April, then ran unplaced in the Preakness Stakes (gr. I). Menacing Dennis was fourth in his last start, the 8 1/2-furlong Leonard Richards Stakes at Delaware Park on June 8.

The field for the July 4 Jersey Shore Breeders' Cup Stakes, run at six furlongs, $100,000 race for 3-year-olds.